Cover Artwork by Sanaa Khandakani
NOVEMBER EDITION
The Avatar is a monthly publication filled with student works and projects all centered around art & literary works, set on showcasing the creative talents of our school. From painting, to writing, to performances, the Avatar is here to display the young artists of our generation in order to promote their growth.
Articles by Avatar Staff
NOVEMBER'S COLOR SWATCH SPOTLIGHT
FEELING YELLOW
By Vanessa Latimer and Mia Molina
The color yellow is one of the oldest colors in history at 17,000 years old. The yellow pigment originates from ochre, a natural clay pigment found in the soil. The use of this pigment dates back to prehistoric times as a way to decorate cave walls and human bodies. In fact, in ancient Egypt, the bodies of gods were painted yellow to resemble gold.
But what does yellow mean? When many people think of the color yellow, they think of happiness and warmth. However, around the 14th century, the color yellow had negative connotations, and it often represented jealousy, illness, betrayal, and deceit. Today, on the other hand, yellow more often symbolizes optimism, happiness, joy, and energy. The color yellow is versatile, invoking different feelings for each person who sees it and, thus, being interpreted in many different ways.
Source: Yellow Article
Sing along with Yellow in Music
Yellow is all around!
- Bananas
- Yellow traffic lights
- Sunflowers
- Lemons
- School buses
Artists often use yellow in their compositions. Vincent Van Gogh featured the color in his sunflowers painting to the right.
What are your thoughts about Yellow?
HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING BREAK! - The Avatar Staff
THANKSGIVING ARTWORK
By Carrie Briggs
Although not all of her works were Thanksgiving-related, Doris Lee’s most famous work was. This painting is entitled Thanksgiving and was done in 1935. This painting made national headlines when put on display at the Chicago Art Institute. However, this painting has quite a rich history, according to the museum’s history.
This loved painting by Doris Lee was the subject of a massive debate when it was first put on display at the museum. During the 46th Annual Exhibition of American Painting and Sculpture in 1935, Lee was awarded the Logan Prize, which was the highest honor of the exhibition. However, the woman whom the award was named after, Mrs. Logan, hated this work, calling it “atrocious” and “awful.” Her hatred of it sparked a debate over Lee’s deserving of the award, with many critics publicly bashing the piece, and others publicly praising the same work. Mrs. Logan founded the Society for Sanity in Art because of this painting after saying “But a sane person leaves this exhibit feeling the art world has the jitters or delirium tremens,” in the Chicago Tribune. This group was against modern art, as this piece was considered back then. It dissolved in the 1940s, thankfully.
This painting was considered to be modern art in the years it had been published. Doris Lee was also noted for her murals and paintings that showed everyday life during the Great Depression. She was born in Aledo, Illinois on February 1st, 1905. Lee studied art and philosophy at Rockford College. She began studying painting specifically on her honeymoon to Italy and France and continued when she came home. She even trained to paint under her second husband.
Other than Thanksgiving, Lee painted two murals for the General Post Office in Washington D.C. and 159 other paintings. She died in 1983, after creating one of the Art Institute of Chicago’s most disputed prize-painting. She was a master of her craft, who (in my opinion) should get more credit.
MORE THANKSGIVING THEMED CREATIVE WORKS
Colombian artist passes away at 91
By Chloe Angel
Fernando Botero, an artist famous for painting rotund and oversize figures dies at 91. According to Botero´s daughter, Lina Botero, the Colombian artist was suffering from complications from pneumonia and passed at home in Monaco.
The Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced, Fernando Botero, the painter of our traditions and defects, the painter of our virtues, has died, from social media.
Botero would show rotund, whimsical, figures, that would show satire to the upper class in Colombia. Fernando Botero was born on April 19, 1932, in Medellín, Colombia, to a seamstress and a traveling salesman. During Botero´s childhood, he was influenced by Spanish colonial art and pre-Colombian art. During the early 1950s botero traveled through Europe while studying art at the same time.
In Fernando´s later life, he would spend most of his time in Paris, but he would visit Medellín. Botero left behind three children, Fernando, Lina, and Juan Carlos, Fernando Botero also had another son, but he died in 1979 in a car crash, in this crash Fernando was also injured.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
By Kenidee Morgan
Science Without Borders Challenge
Prize: 500, 350, or 200 depending on placement
Medium: Must be 2D and traditionally made (no digital artwork or photography)
Deadline: March 4th 2024
https://www.livingoceansfoundation.org/education/science-without-borders-challenge/
Students from the ages 11-19 are encouraged to make art that increases public awareness of the need to protect and preserve the world’s oceans and aquatic species. The theme is “Hidden Wonders of the Deep”. Students need to depict mysterious sea creatures or ecosystems and highlight the diversity of the ocean.
FAMOUS NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
By Kenidee Morgan
Do you share a birthday with a famous artist? See the list below to find out.
Francis Bacon- 1st (Artist)
Jean Baptise Chardin- 2nd (Artist)
John Philip Sousa- 7th (Composer of Stars and Stripes)
Masashi Kishimoto- 8th (Creator of Naruto)
William Hogarth- 10th (Artist)
Claude Monet- 14th (Artist)
Diana Krall- 16th
Danny Devito- 17th (Actor)
Kirk Lee Hammet- 18th (Metallica Guitarist)
Bjork- 21st (Music Artist)
Charles Schulz- 26th (Creator of Snoopy)
NATIONAL ART & WRITING CONTEST
By Carrie Briggs
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are a place for students who love making visual art or writing to enter. Here’s some information about it!
What is it?
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is a competition for which anyone can submit art or writing. You have to be in 7-12 grade and be 13 and up to enter, and the entry fees are $10 per entry and $30 for a portfolio.
Students can win on a regional and national level after being judged by professionals. The deadline for submission is December 19th for our region. Art awards will be announced on January 9th, and writing awards will be announced on January 15th.
What are the awards?
At a regional level, you can win a gold key for first, a silver key for second, and an honorable mention for third. If you win a gold key, your work will be adjudicated at the national level. The awards at the national level are gold and silver medals.
Who’s already won?
Nineteen students from Shawnee have won medals and keys last year. Shawnee has two former students who have won national silver medals, and one who has won a national gold medal. Needless to say, just because we aren’t a big school with a huge budget does not mean we cannot win.
Other than Shawnee students, many famous creatives have won, such as Stephen King, Red Grooms, and Andy Warhol, but of course, there are many others.
This is an exciting opportunity for Shawnee students, and it’s easy to enter, so why not?
Go to https://www.artandwriting.org/ for more information.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
By Carrie Briggs
After two months of work, The Shawnee Drama Department presented Sleepy Hollow on November 17th and 18th. As an actress in the show, here is my review.
First and foremost, what’s the show about? Well, the story synopsis is: “Adapted from Washington Irving, here is a spooky show alive with hilarious action and fun. It begins when Ichabod Crane, a lightly goofy schoolmaster, comes to the farming community of Sleepy Hollow with all his worldly possessions. He’s looking for a good life and a wealthy wife who will supply it. Once he sets eyes on the local beauty, Katrina Van Tassel, he’s sure his dream will come true. Unhappily for Ichabod, Katrina has a boyfriend who’s extremely jealous... the boisterous Brom Bones. To complicate matters the graveyard is haunted by a small army of restless spirits, including the most famous phantom of all, the Headless Horseman. At a party, Ichabod proposes marriage to Katrina, but is booted out by Brom and forced to make his way home through a terrible storm. In the dark, there’s something shadowy and towering intent on taking Ichabod’s life — the Headless Horseman! Poor Ichabod has to outrun the galloping phantom!
Does he? No one knows for sure because the schoolmaster is never seen again. The play is appropriate for all audiences.” This was written by Mr. K I believe, and was a good summary for the show.
My thoughts, with this being my first show in the Drama Department, are generally positive. A lot of time and effort went into making this show historically accurate, and that was done fantastically. The costumes were much higher quality than anyone would have expected. In addition, the set was amazing. So much thought was put into the painting and placement of everything; it was beautifully done. For all of that effort, I want to thank the stage crew and stage managers for everything they’ve done. As for the acting, I think it was very good for what we had to work with. I think it’s safe to say that very few of us went into the show knowing how to improvise in the period, but everyone was able to adapt. I’ve been in quite a few shows at Encore Theater, and I’m pleased to say that this cast was much more dedicated than casts of similar ages that I’ve worked with before. Everyone seemed to want to be there, and by the end, they were some of my best friends. Now, I am by no means an expert on lights and sound, but I think they did very well. With only having outsider knowledge of that, I think they did everything wonderfully, everything seemed to be timed correctly and done perfectly. Of course, as with every show, there will always be bumps in the road. I won’t say there was never a time I or someone else was frustrated or confused, but I also believe that we were able to stick through it and come out with a wonderful show. For my ending thoughts, I think the show went very well after a lot of hard work on everyones part. I made this review with everything anyone has said to me in mind, as well as my thoughts. I am proud to say I was a part of this, and I want to thank everyone who helped to make this show possible and great. Thank you, also, to everyone who saw it. This isn’t the last show of the year at Shawnee! Watch for the musical, coming in the spring! I’m excited to hear what it will be and I encourage you to get involved with the drama program. This program has introduced me to the kindest people I’ve met here, and I hope I get a chance to work with everyone again.
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2023/24 Avatar Staff
Mr. Krawetzke - Avatar Advisor
Carrie Briggs
Caitlyn Smitheram
Chloe Angel
Sanaa Khandakani
Kenidee Morgan
Sanaa Khandakani
Vanessa Latimer
Mia Molina